Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-10-06
THE G. A. R, ENCAMPMENT
A Summary of Commander-in-Chief
Fairchild's Address and Gray's Report.
Report Of the Committee on Pension
Bill Adopted Contents of the Bill
The Next Annual Eneampment to be
Held in Columbus. 0.-0ther Notes.
rAIRcaILp,s ANNUAL ADDRESS.

/ Chief Fairchilds ADDRESS starts off by say
/ ing that the loyal people of tho country
are with the G.. A. r., heart and soul, and
will support it so long as it keeps strict
/ ly within the path of duty marked out by
its founders. He is conf55nt the Grand
/ Army has not been used for political
purposes during the year he has been at
1 the head of it. He warns members to be
on their guard, when he acts or speaks
as a member of the G.. A. r., lest uncon-
! sciously he should lend himself to the
| furtherance of schemes or measures for
eign to its legitimate purposes. Gen.
| Fairchild then pays q touching tribute to
/ Gen. Logan, and recommends the accept
ance of the GIANT cottage, rendered by
Mr.. Drexel. He also suggests that the
Grant memorial committee be continued
and asks that the government census in
| 1890 irclude old soldiers. He reeommen-
| DIS the permanent location of national
| headquarters and the appointment of
ali assistant adjutant general, to be paid
and remain a. headquarters. He sug-
gests the appointment OF an historian
to write the history of the g. A. r. to
date. Gen. Fairchild then reached
THE SUBJECT or PENSIONS,
| saying:
| There has been no change of opinion
or change of method in our ranks. We
have been for years of one mind in con
sidering it but simple justice that the
United States should at least grant a
pension of not less that $l2 a month to
all persons who served three months or
more in the military or naval service of
the United States during the war of the
rebellion and who have been honorably
discharged therefrom and who are now,
or who may hereafter be,suffering from
mental or physical disability not the re-
suit of their own vicious habits, which
iucapacites them Tor the performance
of manual labor. This has been publicly
advocated by us, and all men, who cared
to know, have been fully aware, of our
action and yet, until recently, VIC have
heard almost no objection to such meas
ures.' The commander then says that a
vast majority of posts have voted for the
dependent pension bill, and he believes
it will pass the next congress. or the
service pension bill, he says:
l am not here to argue against that as
an ultimate measure.
Gen. Fairchild then speaks highly of
the woman's relnf corps which shows an
increase during The year 5O4 corps and
i, 1913 members has expended in charity,
during the year S56.106,lS and has on
hand $3.50, 9O0.72. He notes the fact that
the membership of the sons of veterans
legitamitly our successors, is increasing
He com plin, ents his staff officers inluding
Adjt. Gen. Gray.
In conclusion the commander says; We
have not now, nor have we at any time
since the war closed had any disposition
to
OPEN THE BLOODY CHAsM
which once unhappily divided this peo-
Pile We not only will not ourselves, re-
open that dreadful abyss, but will with
the loyal people north and south, pro-
test sgais all attempts which others may
make to do so, by holding up fsr special
honor and dis motion anything that per
tains to, or in any manner, glorifes the
cause of disunion. With the people of
the south we only seek to continue the
friendly rivalry long ago entered upon in
the effort TO make our beloved land great
and prosperous and its people intelligent
happy and prosperous. We will rival
them in exalting all that pertains to and
honors this great union, and in condemn
ing that tends TO foster q hostile senti-
ment thereto. The contem plation of the
grand picture OF long age preserved
union mighty people prospecting as no
people on earth ever prospered before,
with a future far beyond that which open
to any other nation, land comrades,
which to all its citizens is worth living
for, and country and government worth
dying for, continues the greatest reward
of those who have suffered and bled and
striyen that such a spectacle might be
possible.
The
REPORT OF ADJ. GEN. f. b. GRAY
states that on March 81, 1886, there were
3S departments, 5 765 posts, and 295, 1897
members in good standing; constituting
the Grand Army of the Republic; on
March 81, 1887, the returns show IS de-
partments, 6,3l2 posts, and 500, 946 mem
bers in good standing. The returns GOV
ering June 80, 1887, increase this mem
bership by good standing, 336, 562; sus
pended, 25, 220; delinquent, 1882; max
ing the total number borne on the rolls
372,674.
The total amount reported expended
in charity, March 81, 1856, to March 81,
1887, is S253, 934.43. Number of ex-sol.
diers or their families relieved, 26,606-
1907 of these we're members of the order
or the families of such. In Wisconsin.
$4,150,4t was expended in releiyeing 421
persons.
The contributions to the Charleston
relief fund aggregated $7,40S,33, of which
Wisconsin contributed $l,054O6.
The Encampment Formally Speeches